observed by inquisitive travellers, that in most of
our country villages not only the three best houses are inhabited by
the lawyer, the parson, and the doctor, but three-fourths of the whole
property of the place is generally monopolized by the same disinterested
triumvirate: however true the satire ~170~~may be in a general sense,
it certainly does not apply to Cowes, where the liberal professions
are really practised by liberal minds, and where the desire to do good
outweighs the desire to grow rich. But the good people of Cowes are not
without their nabobs; for instance, the eastern shores of the river are
under the dominion of Lord Henry Seymour and Mr. Nash, who there rule
over their humble tenantry with mild paternal sway. On the western side,
the absolute lords of the soil are Messrs. Bennett and Ward: the first,
like other great landed proprietors, almost always an absentee; and the
last somewhat greedy to grapple at every thing within his reach. "Who
does that fine park and mansion belong to?" said a stranger, surveying
Northwood from the summit of the hill. "King George," replied the
islander. "And who owns the steam-boats, which I now see arriving?"
"King George," reiterated the fellow. "And who is the largest proprietor
of the surrounding country?" "King George." "Indeed!" said the stranger,
"I was not aware that the crown lands were so extensive in the Wight.
Have you much game?" "Ees, ees." "And who is the lord of the manor?"
"King George." "And these new roads I see forming, are they also done
by King George?" "Ees, ees, he ought to gi' us a few new ones, I think;
bekase Ize zure he's stopped up enou of our old ones." "What, by some
new inclosure act, I suppose?" "Naye, naye, by some old foreclosure
acts, I expect." "Why, you do not mean to say that our gracious
sovereign is a money-lender and mortgagee?" "No; but our ungracious king
be the', and a money-maker too." "Fellow, take care; you are committing
treason against the Lord's anointed." "Ees, ees, he be a 'nointed one,
zure enou," retorted the fellow, laughing outright in the traveller's
face. "Sirrah," said the offended stranger, "I shall have you taken
before a justice." "Ees, ees, Ize heard o' them ere chaps at East Cowes,
but Ize ~171~~not much respect for 'em." "Not care for the magistrate!"
"Lord love you,--you be one of the Mr. Newcome, Ize warrant me; why,
we've gotten no zuch animal here, nothing o' sort nearer as Newport;
and lawyer Day can